MM Lee says future challenges will focus on economic issues

Lee Kuan Yew at another business forum.  CNA:

“I don’t think the world’s future will be decided by either Islamic fundamentalism or Christian reaction to it,” he said.

“The big countries do not fight each other because they all have got nuclear bombs. Your contest in the future will be an economic one – who has the best technology, the best products, who commands the largest market share.

“Today, (it) is the US, despite its difficulties. Japan is not doing badly, although its domestic economy is still sluggish. But as I see it, the next 20 years, the rise of China and India is inexorable.”

India, Mr Lee said, will not be able to move as fast as China because of its poor infrastructure and different languages. …

Mr Lee said: “In business leadership, all you’ve got to do is to get a good organisation and get market share, in other words, get customers to buy your products or buy your services.

“In politics, you’ve got to get the people to vote for you and support you. That’s a completely different kind or set of qualities you require.”